Egg Freezing And Career Planning: Balancing Work And Family Goals

Dr. Nisha Bhatnagar Feb 28, 2024

The risk of infertility and pregnancy difficulties rises with the age of first-time mothers. Through a medical process known as "egg freezing," or "oocyte cryopreservation," women can store their eggs for use at a later time—perhaps when they're ready to raise a baby. This article discusses the pros and cons of egg freezing for women who wish to balance their goals for a family and a career, as well as things to consider before deciding.

The procedure known as "egg freezing" uses hormones to stimulate the ovaries to create many eggs, extracting the eggs from the ovaries, and keeping them frozen in a lab. When the lady decides she wants a child later on, she can thaw the eggs and fertilize them with sperm. A woman can increase her control over her fertility and lengthen her window for conception by freezing her eggs.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) states that before the age of 35, when both the quantity and quality of eggs are still high, is the best time to freeze eggs. For women who desire to reconcile their career and family goals, egg freezing may be a practical solution.

Egg freezing offers women greater control over when and how they reproduce.

· It can also lessen the stress and strain of finding a compatible spouse or bearing a kid before a particular age.

· It can offer a safety net in the event of illness, infertility, or other unanticipated events.

· It can enable women to follow their ambitions in terms of education, careers, or personal lives without jeopardizing their fertility.

Though Egg Freezing is a very safe procedure there might be some side effects which can be categorized as mild and temporary, they may include heaviness, nausea, and temporary bloating. Egg Freezing is not associated with any long-term side effects.

You have two options for the procedure: the natural cycle, which involves retrieving an egg each month, or hormonal injections, which produce multiple eggs in a single cycle. The bloating that may accompany these injections will subside within 48 to 72 hours after they finish. Egg freezing is a personal decision that needs thoughtful preparation and medical advice. When considering egg freezing, women should analyze the benefits and drawbacks of the process as well as their long-term objectives and moral principles. Achieving a work-family balance can be facilitated by egg freezing. Although it is not a cure-all for all reproductive problems, egg freezing can be a useful alternative for women who choose to put off having children for personal or professional reasons. A reproductive endocrinologist should be consulted by women who are interested in egg freezing in order to evaluate their ovarian reserve, talk through their expectations and goals, and analyze the risks and advantages of the process. While Egg freezing can give women more flexibility and peace of mind when it comes to family planning, expert opinion should be taken before the procedure.